More psychological services on campus, possible extended health center hours and the resignation of Terrie Bracamonte, the vice president of communications, were all topics discussed during a recent Associated Students of Bakersfield College Senate meeting.
“At this point in time we do not have a vice president of communications,” said Brian Feaster, vice president of legislation. “There is a process that we will follow for it to be filled. That process on how we are going to fill it is still debatable at this point.”
Kevin Calvin, the trustee liaison, read a letter from Bracamonte to the senate in which she said that due to health problems she had to resign from her position.
The senate also discussed the need for more psychological services on campus.
“This came from President Sumeet Batth. This is something that she wants to do and has been talking with Charlie Guerrero, the interim dean of students, about,” Feaster said.
During an interview this week, Batth said the senate is recommending that a counselor be hired.
“It would be a physician in the health center that the students could go to if they need someone just to talk to,” she said. “Someone there to help them out if they have any kind of emotional problem.”
Batth isn’t sure exactly where the funding for this psychiatrist would come from.
“Maybe the health center. For sure, not the students. The interim dean of students would have a better idea.”
The next step is for the idea to be approved by the ASBC Executive Board.
Another recommendation from the senate was to have extended health center hours.
“We found out there is more money in the health center funds,” Feaster said. “Students have been coming up to (Batth) and saying, ‘Why do I have to pay this health center fee even when it’s closed and I’m a night student?’ So we’re hoping to have it open a couple nights a week for a couple of hours.”